Time in Oahu

We walked down an empty lot that is waiting to be bought for the low, low price of $3,000,000.! This is a sheer cliff upon which the water pounded relentless waves that sprayed the ocean air around us.

We checked out a Pro Surfing Competition in Haleiwa, HI - the surfing capital of the world. The swells were pretty mellow, they told me, compared to other times of the year.

This is (from L to R) me, Brett, and Flynn. We just got done eating at Duke's, drinking an Hawaiian Iced Tea, and are at Waikiki Beach to soak up a little sun. Flynn and I went out scuba diving on this morning. We went to 105 feet and 40 feet. We got to see a sunken airplane from 1946 at the first sight, and we dove to a volcanic crater with some very large sea turtles at the other site. My last Hawaiian sunset...

These are a few shots from my trip to Hawaii. It was interesting to experience a land that -at first appearance- seems to be all-American, but as time passes, it shows itself to be something more than that: a cultural enigma. The 600 square mile island left me feeling like I understood less about it after my week's trip, than I did before I came. My interactions with the indigenous islanders were very open and welcoming. Aloha seems to be alive and well in its cultural circles, but beyond that reach, I am not so sure how well it is thriving.

"In Search of..." and "Doorways, Edges, and Decisions"

Here's some of my recent work. It's a combo of lampworked 96 that I keep at temp in the garage, and furnace glass.

I'm on my way to Portland right now to catch a flight to Oahu, so I will update when I get a second, but I just wanted to get these pix up. Aloha!

Visit from Milon Townsend

Milon just came to do a one day workshop on the figure - torchworking - and five days on silicone mold making and kiln casting. It was an extremely educational experience having someone of Milon's expertise around to share his knowledge. I was fortunate enough to be his TA for the classes. In the photo you see me thanking the master for his offering of expert information.

"Come Sit in My Garden"

This piece is part of a series that I've been working with - coloring the back of the glass and letting it be affected by the optics of the clear sculpted glass in front of it.

The seated woman is surrounded by flowers and is offering something sweet to the viewer.

This work talks about the sweet temptation of love, though it is not offered without risk.)

Easy Like Sunday Morning

Well, I guess it is better to keep doing now and sleep later. I keep thinking that it is the middle of the week, not the weekend because I'm a TA for Milon Townsend right now and I'm working full days down at the Eugene Glass School.

My coffee tastes good this morning. The leftover Ahi didn't taste as well as I had hoped (my stomach is still a little worked from a bad burrito I ate yesterday.)

Anyway, getting to the matter at hand, I'm trying to make a point of posting something up to my blog with a regular frequency. This is a piece I made for the girls up at gafferglassusa.com. They've been more than kind in helping me along my way, so this was a thank you to them for their help. It is made with Gaffer's new Red Lustre. It is a transparent red with some reactive silver in it that gives it a fumed effect of blues, greens and yellows.

"Bush-league Savoir-faire"

I made this piece post Hurricane Katrina. There is a trapped, nameless victim inside the glass container that is covered up to his neck with dirty motor oil. The back of the container has the state of Louisiana on it. The top of the vessel is the swirling mass of clouds of the hurricane. All of this is resting on the shoulders of the Republican Elephant - a statement about the egregious handling of the matter by the Bush administration and a memorial to those that suffered because of this.

Redefining the Vase - Dialog Vases

It isn't often that I find myself trying to make what has already been made, or a replica of pieces previously made. I've been trying to balance what I've considered to be my motto in glass for years - to never make the same piece twice - with the benefit of working in a series. There is definitely something to be said for proficiency through repetition, so I try not to under play it's importance, rather I work to balance it's use to create a refined piece. Once I feel as though I've executed the piece proficiently, it is time for me to move on to the next idea.

These vases are an example of this process. I made about three prototypes in clear to figure out the problems in the process, without committing my time and money to the color and the color prep. Then, once my assistants and I figured out most of the problems, I made five of these in various shapes and positions.

I like the idea of redefining what has been with a new perspective and approach. These pieces are sculptures, but are functional for those of us who love to find more of a purpose in what we buy than just observing the object. )